Iran to Issue 200,000 Work Visas for Afghan Nationals
Iran will issue 200,000 work visas for Afghan nationals, according to Mohammad Reza Bahrami, Director General of South Asia at Iran’s Foreign Ministry, during his visit to Kabul. Bahrami met with Mawlawi Abdul Kabir, a senior Taliban official, to discuss the situation of Afghan migrants living in Iran.
The Taliban’s Ministry for Refugees stated that Bahrami pledged Iran’s commitment to providing work permits to 200,000 Afghan citizens, as part of Tehran’s efforts to regulate the presence of Afghan migrants on Iranian soil.
Bahrami emphasized that the Islamic Republic of Iran will continue its cooperation with the Taliban administration in managing the Afghan migrant population, particularly those without legal documentation. He added that Iran has so far fulfilled its commitments in this regard.
In response, Mawlawi Abdul Kabir claimed that the Taliban administration encourages Afghan citizens to return voluntarily but urged host countries to refrain from the forced deportation of refugees.
Abdul Kabir also mentioned a planned program by the Taliban aimed at organizing the status of migrants who remain in Iran. The proposal is expected to be formally presented to Iranian officials soon.
The talks come amid growing concerns over the fate of Afghan refugees in Iran, as thousands of Afghan families face the threat of deportation. Numerous reports have emerged detailing arrests and mistreatment of Afghan migrants. In the absence of a recognized government in Kabul, anxiety about the future of Afghan asylum seekers in Iran continues to rise.
